Kathy Shelton earned first-team all-region for the first time in her career.

May 16, 2013

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -

The Baylor softball team had three players named to the 2013 NFCA Division I All-Region team the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced on Thursday. Kathy Shelton earned first-team honors, while Whitney Canion and Holly Holl were named to the second team. It marked the most all-region picks since receiving three in 2011.

Shelton, who was a second-team member in 2011, was recently named first-team All-Big 12. The senior led the league in steals in both Big 12 play (13) and overall (37), breaking the program's single-season mark and becoming the all-time steals leader (117), good for third all-time in Big 12 history. The McKinney, Texas, native, tied for the team-lead in hits (66) and runs (44), while hitting .365. Shelton has reached safely in 49 of 54 games this season.

Canion, named all-region for the third time, was previously a first-team selection in 2009 and a second-team pick in 2011. A 2013 first-team All-Big 12 selection, the redshirt junior became the program's all-time leader in wins (91) and sits sixth on the all-time Big 12 strikeout list (1,149), just two shy of fifth. Her 23 wins overall led the squad and are the seventh-most by a BU pitcher, as she now has three of the top seven marks. Canion was a 2011 second-team All-American.

Holl earned her second, second-team all-region honor after being named in 2012. The redshirt junior leads the team in walks (33), is second on the team in doubles (9) and third in RBI (29). Her 33 free-passes are the third-highest in a season at Baylor and the 81 for her career is third all-time. Holl is also fifth on the all-time doubles list (34). The Katy, Texas, native is having a career year defensively, making just three errors, a career low, for a .988 fielding percentage.

The all-region teams were chosen by NFCA member coaches from each respective region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2013 NFCA Division I All-American teams. In addition, conference pitchers and players of the year not selected to the regional teams were added for All-America consideration.

The Lady Bears will open postseason play in the College Station Regional, beginning with Arizona on Friday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2.